PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE
Perio maintenance is every three months for life – the life of the patient or life of the dentition. This is not an arbitrary interval. If biofilm is not eliminated or adequately dismantled, the colonizing periodontal pathogens come onboard the biofilm. They become the predominant species in three to 12 weeks, and 12 weeks is obviously three months. This development provides a sound bacterial rationale for maintenance every three months.
Ongoing therapy is required. Effective home care is daily therapy to reduce the bacterial load.
After Dr. LaSalle has completed the active phase of periodontal treatment, your periodontal disease will be under control. She will provide you with a maintenance program of care, usually every three months, to keep your gums healthy.
Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Adherence to a program of conscientious home oral care and regularly scheduled periodontal maintenance therapy visits with your general dentist and Dr. LaSalle will give you an excellent chance of keeping your teeth for your lifetime.
As you have learned, you are susceptible to gum disease and the main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film, that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque produce toxins (or poisons) which constantly attack your gums and teeth. Unless plaque is removed, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Daily brushing and flossing will help to minimize the formation of calculus, but it won’t completely prevent it. No matter how careful you are in cleaning your teeth and gums, bacterial plaque can cause a recurrence of gum disease from two to four months after your last professional cleaning. Therefore, a dental professional must check for hidden problems and remove the hardened plaque at time intervals appropriate for you, optimally every three months, so that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
The answer depends on you and the severity of your gum disease before treatment. Generally, the more severe your periodontal disease is initially, the more often Dr. LaSalle needs to oversee your care. Together, you, your general dentist and Dr. LaSalle will work out the most effective schedule for your supportive periodontal care.
Your maintenance/supportive periodontal care visit include:
- discussion of any changes in your health history
- examination of your mouth tissues for abnormal changes
- measurement of the depth of pockets around your teeth
- assessment of your oral hygiene habits and provision of instruction
- removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
- x-ray film studies to evaluate your teeth and the bone supporting your teeth
- examination of your teeth for decay and other dental problems
- check the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- application or prescription of medications to reduce tooth sensitivity or other problems you may have.
Your periodontal condition is the deciding factor. The interval between your supportive periodontal care (spc) visits might be as often as every few weeks or as frequent as every three months. Everyone’s situation is different. The frequency of your supportive care visits will be influenced by:
- the type of periodontal disease you have
- the type of periodontal treatment you have
- your response to treatment
- your rate of plaque growth
- your personal commitment to good oral care at home
To prevent periodontal disease, the major cause of tooth loss in adults, and keep your natural teeth for your lifetime, carefully and conscientiously follow the guidelines of the maintenance program that Dr. LaSalle recommends. Protecting your periodontal health, through preventive maintenance, has great benefits for you. You will be able to chew with more comfort, and you will be able to smile and speak with greater confidence. You will be able to keep dental costs down by preventing future problems. Your commitment to maintenance therapy is your commitment to your better oral health.
Perio maintenance is every three months for life – the life of the patient or life of the dentition. This is not an arbitrary interval. If biofilm is not eliminated or adequately dismantled, the colonizing periodontal pathogens come onboard the biofilm. They become the predominant species in three to 12 weeks, and 12 weeks is obviously three months. This development provides a sound bacterial rationale for maintenance every three months.
Ongoing therapy is required. Effective home care is daily therapy to reduce the bacterial load.
After Dr. LaSalle has completed the active phase of periodontal treatment, your periodontal disease will be under control. She will provide you with a maintenance program of care, usually every three months, to keep your gums healthy.
Maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent disease in the gum tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Adherence to a program of conscientious home oral care and regularly scheduled periodontal maintenance therapy visits with your general dentist and Dr. LaSalle will give you an excellent chance of keeping your teeth for your lifetime.
As you have learned, you are susceptible to gum disease and the main cause of gum disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film, that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque produce toxins (or poisons) which constantly attack your gums and teeth. Unless plaque is removed, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Daily brushing and flossing will help to minimize the formation of calculus, but it won’t completely prevent it. No matter how careful you are in cleaning your teeth and gums, bacterial plaque can cause a recurrence of gum disease from two to four months after your last professional cleaning. Therefore, a dental professional must check for hidden problems and remove the hardened plaque at time intervals appropriate for you, optimally every three months, so that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
The answer depends on you and the severity of your gum disease before treatment. Generally, the more severe your periodontal disease is initially, the more often Dr. LaSalle needs to oversee your care. Together, you, your general dentist and Dr. LaSalle will work out the most effective schedule for your supportive periodontal care.
Your maintenance/supportive periodontal care visit include:
- discussion of any changes in your health history
- examination of your mouth tissues for abnormal changes
- measurement of the depth of pockets around your teeth
- assessment of your oral hygiene habits and provision of instruction
- removal of bacterial plaque and tartar
- x-ray film studies to evaluate your teeth and the bone supporting your teeth
- examination of your teeth for decay and other dental problems
- check the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- application or prescription of medications to reduce tooth sensitivity or other problems you may have.
Your periodontal condition is the deciding factor. The interval between your supportive periodontal care (spc) visits might be as often as every few weeks or as frequent as every three months. Everyone’s situation is different. The frequency of your supportive care visits will be influenced by:
- the type of periodontal disease you have
- the type of periodontal treatment you have
- your response to treatment
- your rate of plaque growth
- your personal commitment to good oral care at home
To prevent periodontal disease, the major cause of tooth loss in adults, and keep your natural teeth for your lifetime, carefully and conscientiously follow the guidelines of the maintenance program that Dr. LaSalle recommends. Protecting your periodontal health, through preventive maintenance, has great benefits for you. You will be able to chew with more comfort, and you will be able to smile and speak with greater confidence. You will be able to keep dental costs down by preventing future problems. Your commitment to maintenance therapy is your commitment to your better oral health.